Brooklyn’s El Kempner returns with a new selection of passionate, intelligent, punchy indie-folk with songs about illusions shattering, the before and after, raw nerves and propulsive instrumentation. Thematically these opposites see-saw frequently, from darkly humorous opener Good Sex, about trying to make a relationship work and the desperation to recapture something that fails. In the next, Independence Day, the narrator realises this is impossible and heartbreak ensues. The Clutch meanwhile is all about pushing forward and yet pulling back an emotional metaphor about warning signs of inevitable heartbreak. Former Song of the Day My Evil takes the other side, from the point of the view of the the one who does the hurting. The title track is a beautiful, rolling bluesy number capturing a road trip (“Wind turbines and overpasses / Thirteen hours on our asses), alongside another standout, U Want It U Got It, a catchy, krautrocky number with a charming, DIY feel. All the way up to beautiful, candid closer, Right About You, which has shades of Elliott Smith, an album packed with dark, honest emotion and finely crafted songwriting. Out on Polyvinyl Records.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new songs and albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: